In a recent survey commissioned by the Irish Primary Principals Network (IPPN) on children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing over 25% of its members reported a spike in anxiety levels in their schools.
So what is going on? Why are our children, who apparently have everything, still anxious? How can we help them?
This is a question teachers, and parents, are asking all the time. They can clearly see signs of anxiety in many of the children sitting in front of them. When anxiety is present it can take over the mind, fears and worries replayed again and again can be overwhelming. If we replay the ‘what if’s’ all day, this stimulates the stress response. If we replay them all night, we do not get the restful sleep necessary for optimum brain function, this means concentration levels can be poor the following day. The amygdala is the part of the brain that is involved in the stress response, it is referred to as the alarm part of the brain. When this is ‘switched on’ so to speak, it’s as if we operate from a place where we feel threatened all the time, it can literally feel like there is an alarm going off in your mind all the time. It is a state of emergency.
When this is the case, the smart part of the brain, the prefrontal cortex, basically shuts down. It is impossible to think straight, to see clearly, to concentrate or take in information. Not a good space to be in if you are a child sitting at a desk facing a maths problem on the board. Worse again when that child goes home in the evening and has no idea how to do the homework. On top of that, many create the habit of being anxious about being anxious. Worrying about not being able to concentrate, not being able to do homework, not being able to sleep, on top of whatever else is whirling around in the mind adds fuel to the fire. Needless to say anxiety is not just an issue for children. According to St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services, Ireland, ‘along with depression, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem affecting the population of Ireland…’ So what can be done in the classroom, or indeed at home for both teachers and students to address this?
The bottom line is that the ‘alarm’ part of the brain needs to be calm. This will allow the ‘smart part’ to operate at its best. It is not rocket science. It is common sense according to Dr. Ann Caulfield and Derval Dunford, directors of Mindfulness Matters. They explain that even simple breathing practices can counteract the stress response, and bring body and mind back into balance. Taking a few conscious breaths, i.e. when you bring awareness to the flow of the breath, or practising abdominal breathing, rather than shallow breathing, settles the amygdala and the production of the stress hormone. This allows the prefrontal cortex to operate again, managing processes like logic, problem solving, reason and memory.
Mindfulness Matters’ brand new short video (2.50 minutes) called ‘Teaching, Mindfulness & Wellbeing in Irish Schools’ and can be viewed on the home page of MindfulnessMatters.ie ,allows you to see the scenario above in action, to hear directly from principal, teachers, and children in Killeen N.S., Co Mayo. It is an opportunity to learn about the differences wellbeing practices have made to their lives. Teachers talk about mindfulness being supportive in personal and professional life and one cute example from the children demonstrates how to magically manage ‘butterflies in their tummies’, something that may be useful for most of us, if we’re honest.
The creative way Derval and Ann teach these mindful practices means they can be effortlessly incorporated into daily life. They do not take up extra time, in fact they free up time by helping teachers and children to be present. Does it not make sense that if all of the minds are in the classroom, rather than wandering off elsewhere, work will be more efficient and effective. Mindfulness Matters’ practises are used to make smooth transitions between subjects, give teachers and children Brain Break. The practices are linked to school subjects Social, Environmental and Scientific Education, SPHE, art, even maths. These simple effective practices are natural part of an holistic education.
Mayo Education Centre, working with Derval and Ann, were well ahead of the posse. They were the first education centre in the country to have an online mindfulness and wellbeing course sanctioned by the Department of Education and Skills. This year they offer Mindfulness Matters level one, and level two, courses on line. These courses are an optimum fit for Irish teachers and schools, as they are based on Irish research, feedback from 7,000 teachers, and are created and facilitated by Dr. Ann Caulfield and Derval Dunford, the pioneers in mindfulness and wellbeing for teachers in the country.
Mindfulness Matters are the only course designers in Ireland to offer two levels for teachers. Registration is now open with special offers @ MayoEducationCentre.
The whole school approach means we prioritise staff and student wellbeing. It has become a habit, part of daily life, we acknowledge emotions, respect individuality, communication has improved, and there is no more fighting in the yard”. Bríd Grady Principal, Killeen N.S., Co.Mayo.
For more information contact: Derval Dunford 087 2888720, Dr. Ann Caulfield 087 6108144
E mail: info@mindfulnessmatters.ie derval@mindfulnessmatters.ie ann@mindfulnessmatters.ie
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